Laura's Journal

Laura Jacobs  Thank you so much Rose. I was reading your journal and I must say that my heart goes out to you. You have been through a remarkably scary time that I cannot imagine. No one person deserves so much thrown their way. You are remarkable to have fought through it and overcome the adversities. I admire your strength. My very best to you, your husband and family.

Laura Jacobs  Thank you Marie. The value of your advice and experience helped me prepare emotionally and physically. I appreciate all your posts.

Rose Madura  Thank you Laura. I believe God brought me through it all. I also had a great team of cardiologist and surgeon who worked together to figure out the problem. I am most grateful to them as well. Continue to get better each day.

Laura Jacobs  Hi Civita - you were so right!!!! The nurses at Brigham and Women's were phenomenal.. so genuinely caring and hard working. I am so lucky that I was able to go there!

Laura Jacobs  Thank you for the well wishes Jill. So far I think I have been rather lucky. Not saying it is easy but no significant complications that some have had to fight through. Knock on wood.

Jim Hopkins  Getting home is a big step. Just take it easy and relax and HAVE FUN. Make that family feel good by helping you out. You've been through the worst, now it's one day at a time.

Paul Rose  Welcome to the club and Wonderful to hear that all went well. Now take it easy with your recovery, slow and steady makes it faster :-)

Wanda Mroz  Best wishes for a smooth recovery... just take it one day at a time, and be patient with yourself. You will have good days and bad... it's normal.

Lin Houghton  Good luck with everything. I had my Mitral Valve repaired at Mass General. Excellent Dr's and nurses!!

Barbara Helen Dance  Hi Laura, thank you so much for your support, it means a great deal. I hope all is going ok. for you. My very best wishes, Barb xx

Laura Jacobs  Thanks to everyone for all the encouragement and hopefulness. . It is so helpful when it is coming from people who are experiencing the same medical issues as yourself.

David Cohen  Hi Laura. If it is any consolation, whatever anxiety you may have, I am having twice that! But, everyone here seems to have experienced that also, and at least we can feel that we are part of an understanding group that is dealing with similar medical and emotional issues. Those who have already had surgery seem ok! They did it, we can too. PS, I am having multi valve OHS at Brigham & Women's the week after you. I'll be thinking of you.

Alethea Scally  Hi Laura, thanks for the well wishes for my dad's surgery. Having just gone through this today, the best thing to do for the jitters is to surrender to the process, or at least that seems to be what my dad was doing. The drugs helped, I'm sure. ;-)

Laura Jacobs  Thank you so much David and Alethea. I was just started to settle in on my date when I got a call that the surgeon needs to push my surgery from the 19th to the 21st. Suddenly I was feeling unsettled all over again when I should be feeling like a had two more days of summer to enjoy. So silly, but a day later and I am starting to settle down again. Multi-valve surgery - wow!!! I will be thinking about you too David. All the best to you and of course Alethea's Dad too.

David Cohen  Hey Laura, that means you and I may be at B&W at the same time! I go in on the 27th. And Alethea, I like your phrase, "surrender to the process." which is how I feel I am going to cope. Best to you and your dad.

Laura Jacobs  Just received a call - my surgeon is pushing my surgery from Monday the 19th to Wednesday the 21st. I have some juggling to do but I also have two more days of summer to enjoy.

Catie B  Hi Laura and welcome! I hope you'll find it helpful to write here, ask questions, and hear from others who've had similar surgeries. Though the diagnoses are scary, many thousands of valve replacements are done each year. And as you may have learned, aortic aneurysms are not uncommon with diseased aortic valves. I had my aortic aneurysm repaired and valve replaced last fall. Keep us posted--wishing you the best!

Marie Myers  Bicuspid aortic valve is the most common congenital heart defect. 1-2 %. Of the population has it, like me and you... I had surgery 9 weeks ago for resection of ascending aortic aneurysm (which can happen with bicuspid valves) , replacement of dilated aortic root and AVR. It is all scarey in the beginning, but take it step by step and you will get through it all! Lots of good help on this web site...

Phyllis Petersen  Welcome Laura! I didn't have the same issues as Catie and Marie, but I can tell you that from a heart surgery perspective, you're considered young. I had my mitral valve repair last October at 62 1/2, and actually met Catie at the hotel. You'll get lots of info and support here.

Laura Jacobs  Hi Phyllis, Thanks for writing. I hope you are doing well. I will be going to Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston. My surgeon will be Dr. Marc Pelletier. Hopefully there will be lots of resources at B&W also. I first met with cardiologist Dr. Heather Hurlburt, and Dr. Dale Adler. Both were wonderful, caring, and willing to answer any questions that I had. You think you have exhausted your questions and you leave only to think of several more. The more I learn, the more questions I have.

Civita Fahey  Hi Laura.. I just had my AVR done at Brigham and Women's 5 weeks ago.. Id be happy to answer any questions.. The staff was amazing there. .my surgeon was Dr. Prem Shaker the chief of cardio thoracic surgery.. the nursing staff is outstanding.. let m know if you have any ? I can hep with.

Laura Jacobs  Hi Civita, Thanks so much for writing. I really appreciate it. I am glad that you are doing so well. I read your story and it is encouraging. I have a bunch of questions. Did you get a tissue or mechanical valve? Did your surgeon suggest which one to choose and explain all the pros and cons? What causes the neck, back and shoulder pain I keep reading about? Were you able to manage the stairs at home in the early weeks (no main floor bedroom in my home)? After release from the hospital, how often do you have to go back for checkups? I think that is enough for now!!! - Laura

Civita Fahey  Hi Laura. i chose a tissue valve. I just felt that at 55 and being pretty active, I love to travel that Coumadin wasn't for me. Plus you can hear it and it would drive me nuts. My doctor felt it was a good decision as he felt being on Coumadin for more than likely 30 plus (God willing) years is more dangerous. And he said the TAVR will be gold standard in about 5 years. I think the neck and back pain is from positioning on the table. They're hard tables and they do move you around plus they open the chest and all the muscles are moved. Plus the hospital beds aren't comfortable. I also had a hard time sleeping since I'm not a back sleeper and sleeping on my side was out for the first 3 weeks. Some find a recliner more comfortable. I did not. My bedroom is on the second floor also and I had no issue with the stairs from day one. Just go slow. I saw my cardiologist and PCP in the first two weeks after surgery and the surgeon I have a post op on 6/5 which is 6 weeks. If you'd like to speak on the phone here is my email. Formia0711@ Gmail. We can exchange numbers if you have more questions. Civita

Phyllis Petersen  Some of the pain depends on the procedure, but the shoulder and up chest pain are often from the drain they put in after surgery to remove excess fluids. Mine was in for about a day or so, but there was residual soreness. Civita's right that the positioning on the table has its own issues, then there's the heart/lung bypass and other tubes and stuff. Then, if you're not used to having to be on your back in bed, that can add to it. It fades, but not always as quickly as we'd like. Then you start cardiac rehab and you start pushing your muscles a bit. It sounds like a lot, but for most I don't think the real pain lasted that long.

Laura Jacobs  Civita, I just read your note about why you chose a tissue valve and your experience with all the other facets of the recovery that I was wondering about. I cannot thank you enough for sharing your experience with me. I know without a doubt that I will not be able to cope with any ticking or noise from a mechanical. I also want to avoid long term use of blood thinners. I am encouraged by your ability to climb the stairs to your bedroom. Thank you for the offer to call you. It is very kind of you. I will take you up on that if I have some questions, and I will keep you up to date on how I am doing. Off to Boston now for my CAT scan and I meet my surgeon today. I expect to get a surgery date today as well.

Jennifer McInerney  Hi Laura, I am on the same journey. I have bicuspid aortic valve. I have been followed (watchful waiting) for many years. It appears I have now moved to a severe rating of my aortic stenosis. After much discussion and research, I am going with a tissue valve. I don't want the hassle of coumadin and TAVR is moving forward and I suspect will be standard by the time it needs to be replaced. Plus I think the clicking of a mechanical valve would bug me. Good luck. This site and the people on it are great and have helped me more than any of them will ever know!

Civita Fahey  Hi Laura
I was just at the Brigham this morning for my post op! All went really well, all my restrictions are lifted except of course for any lifting over 10 lbs for the next month and half ( 3 month mark).. I was told I could start my boxing slowly at around 3months so Im pretty happy about that.. Still am getting tired ( the ride in and back pooped me out. lol) but, I know that it will all fall into place.. I hope you get your date soon.. they are the best, the nurses are angels.. let me know if you have any questions. Civita

Laura Jacobs  Hi Jennifer, I am with you on the choice of tissue. I did not want to have to deal with constant monitoring that might be necessary with coumadin, and I knew how would not be able to deal with the sound of a mechanical valve. I know it is a personal choice, but the right one for me. I am also hoping that further strides will be made with TAVR by the time I have to face a replacement valve. I noticed on one of your posts that you are in Canada. I am from Canada too!! Do you have a surgery date yet? Mine is the 21st(next week).

Laura Jacobs  Hi Civita, I am so glad to hear that your post op went well. That is great news. I am so impressed that you are starting boxing again. I stopped exercising about 18 months ago because I was finding it so difficult. I thought I was just getting old, and out of shape (that was true too!!), but most of it was breathlessness. I am looking forward to getting back to things. Thank you for the feedback about Brigham...it is very encouraging. I did get my date by the way - next week on the 21st. I feel ready for it now. Laura